Locking assembly



- LOCKING AssEuBLY Filed Aug. 14. 1968 EMMAMfL M TRK/L/S ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,524,225 LOCKING ASSEMBLY Emmanuel M. Trikilis, 170 Maplewood Ave., Columbus, Ohio 43213 Filed Aug. 14, 1968, Ser. No. 752,554

Int. Cl. B42d 1/06 U.S. Cl. 24-67 6 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In libraries or depositories Where large collections of such printed material are stored, there is an urgent need to provide a permanent binding for this material. There is also a critical need to assure that such material is identified in order to facilitate internal classication in the library or depository and that it is not removed from the library Without the permission of the proper authorities.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention contemplates a locking assembly comprising a plate-like member having at least one protruding tab, a spring portion mounted on said tab and means for receiving the spring portion of the tab so as to provide a permanent locking engagement therebetween thereby securing the plate-like member to sheets of printed material.

The assembly defined by this invention provides an exceedingly simple, durable and effective mechanism which can be quickly and permanently attached to the leaves or sheets of the printed material by a person with little or no skill.

Furthermore, the assembly contemplated by this invention permanently retains the printed material in an assembled and bound condition. Due to its size and shape, once the assembly has been attached to the printed material, it cannot be removed except by complete destruction of the entire assembly or by means of a special tool which is constructed specifically for this purpose.

The subject matter of this invention provides a locking assembly that is additionally readily engageable with the leaves or sheets of printed material without affecting the utility, service or other physical characteristics of the printed material.

Still further, this assembly can iind use by libraries as an identification plate which provides a convenient surface on which to inscribe the name of the owner of the bound material or other desirable information.

Moreover, in addition to the above advantages, this assembly acts as a body stiffener for the exible loose printed material which is bound by the assembly.

One of the more important aspects of this invention is that this assembly may form a desirable part of a security system constructed to prevent the unauthorized removal from libraries, etc. of the printed material. Typical security systems in which this assembly would find use are those disclosed in my co-pending application for Improved Magnetic Sensing Detection System and Method, Ser. No. 745,729, tiled July 18, 1968, and my application, Ser. No. 412,839, iled Nov. 23, 1964, now Pat. No. 3,292,080. Briefly, when the plate-like member of this 3,524,225 Patented Aug. 18, 1970 assembly is constructed of a magnetic material or one that is capable of sustaining a magnetic iield, the electronic sensing systems set forth in the above applications would be able to detect and control the bound printed material from being pilfered as it passes through the system.

In order that this invention and its mode of operation may be readily understood by those skilled in the art to which it pertains, I have in the accompanying drawings and detailed description based thereon set out the embodiment contemplated by my invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an exploded isometric view of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the plate-like member taken along the line 2 2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the locking bar along the lines 3-3 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the plate-like member and locking bar in assembled arrangement.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, this invention comprises a thin rectangular plate-like member 1 which carries a pair of spaced apart tabs 2 which protrude outwardly from one of the side edges 3 of the plate-like member 1. The top surface 4 of the plate-like member 1 is planar in shape in order to provide a convenient surface on which to inscribe various information such as the name of a person.

The tabs 2 are preferably of the same thickness as the plate-like member 1. The length and width of the tabs 2 are not critical; however, they must be of such a dimension so as to allow the tabs 2 to fit through holes provided in printed material which is sought to be bound.

Each tab 2 is provided with an upper surface 5 and a spring portion 6 which extends upwardly at an angle from and out of the plane of the tab 2. The spring portion 6 is V-shaped and carries substantially vertical abutting edge 7 along the apex of the V-shaped spring portion 6, which portion is capable of being depressed substantially into the plane of the tab.

Referring now to FIG. 3, the locking bar 8 is generally rectangular in cross-section and has a generally rectangular inner cavity 10 which is defined by upper and lower walls 11 and 12, respectively, and side walls 13 and 14. The side wall 14 further comprises an inner vertical surface 9 and a lower horizontal surface 9. Side wall 14 is shorter than side wall 13 and is spaced a short distance from the lower wall 12 thereby dening a slot 15 which is approximately equal to the thickness of the tab 2. This slot 15 extends along the entire length of the bar 8. The lower wall 12 also carries a slightly flared mouth 16 which enables the tab 2 to be quickly and easily inserted into the cavity 10 of the bar 8.

FIG. 4 illustrates the tab 2 being inserted in locking engagement within the locking bar 8. The tab 2, in this position, rests on the lower wall 12 of the bar 8 with its abutting edge 7 acting against the side wall 14.

To insert the tab 2 into the locking bar 8, the tab 2 is iirst guided along the ilared mouth 16 on the lower wall 12 of the locking bar 8 to the slot 15. The tab 2 is them passed through the slot 15 of the locking bar 8 until the upper surface of the spring portion 6 contacts the lower surface 9' of side wall 14 of the locking bar 8. Further, movement of tab 2 towards the locking bar 8 will result in the depression of the spring portion 6 in a downwardly direction until it snaps back to its original position upon clearing the side wall 14 of the locking Ibar 8. The abutting edge 7 of the spring portion in this position acts against the inner surface 9 of side Wall 14 to prevent the removal of the tab 2 from the cavity 10.

While the embodiment shown in the drawings depicts the plate-like member 1 as having two tabs 2 in number, this invention contemplates the use of any number of tabs. The desirable number that should be used is dependent upon the nature of the material that is to be bound.

Likewise, while the cavity and the slot 15 of the locking bar 8 are shown to extend along the entire length of the locking bar 8, it is only necessary that the cavity and the slot 1S be located at those places along the locking bar 8 which are to receive the tabs 2 of the plate-like member 1.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings the plate-like member 1 may advantageously comprise a material which is capable of being magnetized or of substaining a magnetic field. This is desirable so that the invention, in addition to acting merely as a binding device, can be used in connection with the aforesaid method for preventing unauthorized removal of the bound material to which the article locking assembly of this invention is attached.

It is to be understood that the spring portions 6 of the tabs 2 can be formed by any suitable operation as long as the spimg portions are resilient in nature. It has been found that suitable spring portions may Ibe formed by well-known stamping or punch presses.

The locking lbar of this invention can be made of any suitable material such as plastic, aluminum, etc. However, it is preferred that the material of which the locking bar 8 is constructed should be lightweight, durable and strong, not only to provide adequate binding strength for the printed material and easy handling of the bound article, but also to prevent possible mischievous detachment of the plate-like member 1 from the bound material.

Although a specific embodiment of this invention has been shown in the drawings and described in the accompanying specification, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited thereto, but is capable of modification and rearrangement without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A locking assembly for binding together one or more sheets having perforations therefor in such manner as to permanently lock such sheets in such assembly, comprising:

a plate-like member having at least one protruding tab for extending through such perforations to hold such sheets together, each such tab including a spring portion normally extending out of the plane of said tab and substantially toward said plate-like member l and capable of being depressed substantially into the plane of the tab; and

a substantially rigid locking member having at least one slot therein and forming an inner cavity accessible through said slot, said slot being of substantially the same thickness as said tab and being less thick than the tab with the spring portion thereof in its normally extended position, whereby engagement of said tab with said locking member secures a locking engagement therebetween, the spring portion being in its normally extended position preventing removal of the tab from the locking member.

2. A locking assembly as dened in claim 1 wherein said locking .member comprises an elongated, substantially hollow bar, the interior of said hollow bar constituting said cavity.

3. A locking assembly according to claim 2 wherein said slot extends along the entire length of said bar.

4. A locking assembly as defined in claim 1 suitable for use in conjunction with a magnetic detection system for detecting unauthorized removal of printed material from libraries, wherein said plate-like member is magnetizable and is magnetized such that its magnetic iield is susceptible of detection by such system.

5. A locking assembly for binding sheets together, comprising a magnetic plate-like member having at least one protruding tab, a V-shaped spring portion mounted on said tab and extending upwardly therefrom, and locking means in the form of an elongated substantially hollow bar having a slot extending through to the interior thereof for receiving the spring portion of said tab so as to provide a locking engagement between said platelike member and said locking means, thereby securing the plate-like member to the sheets.

6. A locking assembly as delined in claim 5 wherein said bar is rectangular in cross-section and carries a side wall which abuts up against the spring portion when the tab extends through said slot and into the hollow bar.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 204,233 5/1878 King 281-50 255,614 3/1882 Garside.

392,938 11/1888 Wood et al 281-50 1,125,412 1/1915 Towne 281-50 1,161,632 11/1915 Dingens 281-50 DONALD A. GRIFFIN, Primary 'Examiner U.S. Cl. XR. 281-50 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE 0F CORRECTION Patent No32524s225 Dated August 18, 1970 Inventor-(s) Emmanuel M. Trikilis It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown below:

Column 2, line 40, "...the tabe 2." should read .tab 2, Substantially toward the plate-like members. Column 4, line 44 .3/1882 Garside" should read ...S/1882 Garside 24-230SL This certificate supersedes Certificate of Correction issued November 3, 1970.

Signed and sealed this 23rd day of February 1971.

(SEAL) Attest:

EDWARD M.FLETCHER,JR.

Attesting Officer Commissioner of Patents USCOMM-DC 60376-P69 a u,s, covnnnzur mn'rms ounce: nu o-:u-sn

WILLIAM E. SCHUYLER, JR. 

